To tap the huge tourism market in India, Israel government today said it is planning to set up an office in the country's financial capital. "The number of tourists from India has doubled in the last one year. With more than 40,000 arrivals in 2010, India ranked number one in Asia in tourists visiting Israel. I see huge potential in India and we are exploring the possibility of opening an office in Mumbai," Israeli Tourism Minister, Stas Misezhnikov, who is visiting India for the first time, told reporters here.

Misezhnikov is here on a six-day visit, accompanied by senior officials from Israel Tourism Ministry and industry representatives. Earlier in the week, the minister had met his Indian counterpart, Subodh Kant Sahai, in New Delhi. Misezhnikov said he also met Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi and talked about increasing the number of direct flights to Israel. "At present EL AL offers direct flight to Tel Aviv from Mumbai 3-4 times a week. We would like more direct flights connecting with other cities like Kolkata, Kochi and Goa with Israel," he added.

The minister said that until recently Israel attracted mostly religious tourists from India. However, the trend is changing as the country, with its rich culture and natural resources, offers variety of things ranging from leisure, adventure to eco- and agriculture tourism to suit varied tastes and moods, he said.